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Omar Minaya will offer a contract to Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes, and possibly a starting pitcher, like Derek Lowe, this week, reports David Lennon in Newsday, citing a person familiar with the situation.
According to Lennon, “The money, it seems, is not nearly as important to the Mets as the number of years.”
Yesterday in Newsday, citing ‘people in the loop,’ Ken Davidoff wrote, ‘Minaya is intrigued by the idea of trading young talent to Chicago for Bobby Jenks.’
However, if the Mets do go for Jenks, he will almost certainly cost OF Fernando Martinez, per the New York Post, who quotes a Mets official as saying, “Unless something changes, I would say the chances of us getting Jenks are close to zero. The price is too high and he isn’t close to the top of our list.”
…from what i can gather, the Sox like Robert Parnell, who the Mets would rather not trade…and so, i understand the dilemma, do you trade, say, parnell and martinez to the Sox for jenks, or do you wait out the market a bit in hopes that the price for K-Rod drops to three-years before some one else signs him for more…
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How about the option of signing both Fuentes and K-Rod.
Unrealistic.
so is gtting K Rod for three years.
Where is the FOUR year option??
I agree.
Yup, I’m for four instead of five as well.
if you want to develop great players and get them when they’re young, you can’t trade them for established players, that’s simple.
with established players, you’re almost always getting someone who’s best years are behind them.
it cant happen cuz in order for fuentes to be a setup man he has to agree with it..and also it would cost us a fortune.
Waste of money
Would Parnell and F-mart get Jenks? Seems like it might not be enough.
yea i think it would
Even if it was enough I wouldn’t bother with it. I like Jenks, but we really need to stop cleaning out the farm to bring in one or two guys. I think we can make a good change to the team without going that far this year. We’ve got some good looking young guys on the verge of being ready, they just need a bit of time in AAA this year with some callup action during the season.
Not enough? More like way too much.
too much to pay. Jenks does have salary too, and with arbitration looming, what is the total $$ for the next few years really going to be vs. signing a FA?
the other way to look at it is, are prospects the quality of these 2 worth paying that much for?
There is also the problem that once you trade them, they are gone. So not only don’t you have them to use if needed on the Mets, you forgo any other deals that would require these guys.
ANyway, if you trade the young/cheap reinforcements or replacements, then you have to pay to fill the holes via FA anyway, so whats the gain?
Oversimplified, trade F mart for Jenks to save $ on a closer, then sign a FA LF like Ibanez. You end up spending the money someplace!
Not to mention that the guy you use to fill the hole left by trading the young guy will almost definitely be significantly older, so you’ll have to fill that hole again even sooner. It turns into an ugly cycle that we’ve been in for a while.
I’d wait it out. Honestly, after seeing Wagner get injured and lost for his final year…it wouldn’t shock me if Omar somehow coerces K-Rod into taking a 3 year deal with an easily attainable 4th year and a harder-to-obtain 5th year options.
This would obviously mean having to pay K-Rod around $16-17 mil per year, probably more than you’d like to, but at least we’d only be on the hook for 3 years if something happens.
Does anybody else see Parnell as being part of our bullpen next year?
Also, I’m not so unsure that Brad Holt doesn’t pitch in the bigs next year either.
Parnell and Holt will be a BIG part of this franchise (a la Pelfrey) for years to come…
a la Pelfrey? Are you expecting Pelfrey to move into the bullpen?
I guess this shows that K-Rod wasn’t taking a physical in preparation for signing a contract with the Mets. It seems he hasn’t even been offered one yet.
How about they sign K-Rod and just spend an extra $10 mil on free agency? They have a brand new stadium and will probably reach record ticket sales numbers this season. Spend some extra money on the team and keep the prospects in the system.
Omar’s clearly handcuffed by Wagner’s contract for 2009. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out the Wilpon’s are pretty infuriated with the fact Omar now has to pay for 2 very expensive closers for 2009.
Hopefully, Omar gets K-Rod and he agrees to take a backloaded 4 year deal (4th year being an option).
For this team, with the current needs and prospect pool, not to mention 2010 needs, I think they are better off just laying out the cash for Fuentes or K Rod, probably for 3 years.
I really wouldn’t mind seeing them just go with a fresh face (young guy? current MR? ) and save the prospects and the cash, which they can invest in something else good . Like Teix, not Lowe.
I am intriqued by Parnell in the pen. Heck, he fits the profile of a guy that could step into a set up or cloer role and save the team a bunch of money.
Where do you think Jenks came from anyway? A few years ago, he was a young guy with a big FB. Only reason he is a “stud closer” now that requires trading a big package for? They gave him the chance to do it.
Find your own Jenks. Parnell? What about that dude in the AFL that is pitching lights out? I don’t really care who, but at least take a look!
It really is a no brainer to just sign a closer. You only make a trade like the one suggested for a guy like Jenks when you have to. The Mets don’t have to, nor should they. There are better options.
If Omar trades Fernando and Bobby Parnell for Bobby Jenks, we should all immediately write letters of apology to Jim Duquette for all the unkind thoughts we’ve expressed about him…
Look, Duquette and the Kazmir deal was atrocious. However, when we only saw Santana win 16 games last year because of a horrible bullpen we still wouldn’t have won the pennant last year. Also, had we not traded Kazmir away we would not have had Santana. The bottom line is the Mets, with much credit to Minaya, have moved beyond the Kazmir debacle.
We need to now fix the bullpen.
That considering, signing a reliable closer is better than trading our blue-chips for.
Agreed. That would be a move even more terrible than Kazmir. You don’t trade your top prospects for relievers.
Lowe is a done deal. He is coming to NYC.
Please elaborate…
Deal is worked out, waiting to see how much Sabbathia gets, i.e. years/money. Lowe’s contract will fluctuate based on that.
The Bronx?
Still not sold on him, if it means losing another draft pick (type A), and ties up a big chunk of the $ to spend in the offseason
Just not comfortable with spending on another old SP 9remember Glavine) if it means having to cheap out elsewhere.
Try to steal Vazquez for minor (or replaceable) parts before doing this.
I too am very intreigued by Vasquez. To me that is the one trade that has to be done this offseason for the Mets. Having him as an option next year regardless of who we sign will make us better.
Give him 3/42 with option years for 4 and 5. Year 4 16 million with 6 million buyout, 5th year 16 million with 3 million buyout.
That leaves it at a potential 5/74, 4/61, 3/48.
I’d much rather just give him 4/52.
10/12/14/16
Most likely not going to get him.
The reason I put the option years is that if we let him go after 3 years he would have basically gotten 3/45.
Not only that, why on earth would you back load the contract? Especially when all of our stars are due pay increases in the future. If you are saying so we can spend more money this season, then just bite the bullet and spend more. We are not going to go over the luxury tax anyway. That type of contract could really break us in the end. If anything, frontload it so he could be traded or if he does get injured we have options.
Billy Wagner, for one…
I would be more inclined to short the 2009 salary and make the other years the same number.
like 9,15,15,15
You backload it for a few reasons.
Firstly, because Wagner is still owed $10 this year – and next year he’ll be off the books, so it makes sense to have the next closer make more once Billy’s officially gone.
Secondly, because of the insane inflation of MLB free agency. $16 mil seems like a lot now, but in four years it’ll probably equate more to 13 million.
Third, they only have to spend $10 mil on him this offseason – and with the offseason budget, and a plan to win in ‘09, the team can go out and spend more money NOW on free agency.
I could come up with more reasons…but there are plenty.
Just a question for everyone. Does anyone want Kerry Wood? I know there is the HUGE injury factor. But his name has not been mentioned once. He had a better k/9, BB/9, GB%, HR/FB% and pitched in the same amount of innings.
I’m all for K-rod at the right price, but again on this blog it’s like all him or nobody. Or all him or fuentes. There is a 3rd FA and he would come way cheaper. I know you need someone in the wings because of the injury factor. But if his contract allows you to sign a top middle guy like Cruz in addition to a one or 2 others, you have to look at that too.
That said, GET K-ROD DONE!!!
Wood for a shorter (and maybe cheaper! but not likely) deal works for me. COvers the spot, and gives them time to hopefully groom the eventual replacement (as a set up guy, like Parnell).
I would do Wood for 2 years and an option, not touch Fuentes unless he is 8 million a year.
Still our primary goal should be Krod.
I would do Wood for two to three years. I think he is the best closer available. If he sign him though, you would need a really good bridge man who can step in if Wood’s arm goes or if he needs a rest due to blisters.
Wood is the best pitcher off all the pitchers available, it just that he is fragile.
But Omar should offer K-rod a three year deal with an option for a forth if health incentives kick in.
Kerry Wood isn’t worth 2 or 3 years. He’s had too many arm problems. I’d only give him those years if his annual rate were lower. He’s no where near the best closer on the market. We need to get away from aging players and players with injuries. No Fuentes, no Wood. If we’re going to go cheap, go for Hoffman on a one year deal who’s reliable. Or make a trade for Putz. No Street, no Sherrill.
They should give K-Rod a 4 year deal with a team option for a fourth. He knows he can get more than 3 years. The best option for the Mets if they’re going to save money will be working the trade market so we’ll see. I don’t see how K-Rod doesn’t end up a Met though. There’s no other big market team out there. He wants to be here and they’d love to have him here. It’ll be very disappointing if K-Rod isn’t here. Or Jenks.
Jenks will not happen as long as they continue to ask for F-Mart
Option 5 – Trade for Putz
Although if you could get Vazquez and Jenks for the package above + Castillo, I’d do that.
So Omar is only now getting around to getting down to business?
What was he doing the past few days, playing Fallout 3?
FIRE HIM
He has been gauging the level of interest. What is he supposed to just make up numbers, like we all do on here. Free agency has only been open for now 3 days. Calm down.
He was probably working the phones, calling agents, getting a feel for the price, he will now low ball them but say he is very interested. Hopefully if the low ball offer is actually the best offer he gets said player cheaper then he wanted in the first place
wow, has the economy gotten so bad that fiscal responsability is spilling over into how people spend their baseball teams money?…
GET IT DONE
FIX ROTATION
SIGN MANNY
KEEP PROSPECTS..WE NEED TO GET HOME GROWN TALENT THROUGH.STOP TRADING THEM AWAY..
what about milton bradley? hes a free agent.
i havent heard anyone talk about him to put in the outfield. this guy has some balls and hes gritty and the mets need more guys that are like this. sure hes sort of a scumbag but look at the 86 mets, they had some scumbags on that team and look what they did.
It’s not that he isn’t a good player, but he is like a Ron Artest of the MLB. He’d cause clubhouse problems and he’s been injured plenty of times. However, if he were to put his head on straight he’d add lots of fuel to our rivalry with the Phillies.
Great thinking on the part of the 53% who want to wait out the market. Here’s your worst case scenario:
Mets try to wait out K-Rod and Fuentes. Rangers do their usual-jump in with both feet and offer K-Rod a 5-80 contract and he signs there.
Then, Milwaukee signs Fuentes to 4-48 contract and he winds up there. We get left with either
A) Wood (who likely rips his elbow up AGAIN and we lambast Omar for waiting too long (Granted, the injury problem is possible with ALL the possible scenarios)
B) We trade the farm again for Jenks & Co. and he eats his way out of baseball in a year.
All I’m saying is a lot of people aren’t going to be happy no matter what we wind up doing and there are pitfalls to any scenario.
The Rangers aren’t planning on increasing their payroll from what I understand. Plus they have a lot of in house options.
K-Rod is not going to sign for 3 years. What should have been included in those options is waiting for K-Rod to come down to 4 years because that’s realistic. There are 10 teams who need closers (Mets, Cardinals, Angels, Tigers, Indians, Rays, D’Backs, Brewers, Padres, Braves). There may be even more (Texas), but that’s just the start.
The Angels said they aren’t going to trying to re-sign K-Rod. Detroit said they can’t afford him. Cleveland, Tampa Bay, Milwaukee, San Diego & Atlanta can’t afford him. However, many of those teams may be willing to try for Fuentes. Fuentes says he wants 4 years/44 million. How on earth is that a bargain? The Mets won’t get him for a ”bargain” price. He’ll wind up getting 3 years/36 million from some team. My guess is St. Louis.
Francisco Rodriguez is worth a 4 year contract. Not 5 years. He’s going to get more than 3 years. I can’t see any team outside of the Mets and Cardinals offering more than 4 years/40 million to Rodriguez. Fuentes probably isn’t going to get 4 years/48 million. He’s 33 years old. He’ll end up with a similar deal to Lidge. Maybe a tad bit more in dollar amount, but not more years.
Unless the Mets and Cardinals make trades, it’s a matter of K-Rod going to one of those teams and Fuentes the other. I know Minaya doesn’t want to spend more, but that’s just how it is. A fair offer to K-Rod is 4 years/52 million with a 13 million team option or a 4 million buyout. It’d guarantee him at least 14 million per year.
Bobby Jenks will probably make 21 million over the next three seasons in arbitration. K-Rod will probably get 45 million in the next three seasons + more seasons. The truth is we’d probably look to re-sign Jenks when his arbitration ends who’d the same age as K-Rod though. So do you spend 24 million and give up a draft pick? Or do you trade Fernando Martinez and Bobby Parnell or Eddie Kunz? That’s the difference between K-Rod and Jenks. I say go for K-Rod because he’s better. There’s no guarantee that pick will turn into a star. However, if we were to trade for Jenks we’d have 24 million extra to spend on a couple set up men.
I highly doubt the Cardinals will give K-Rod 5 years too. I do think they’ll offer 4 years, but if the Mets were to make a similar offer to the Cardinals I’m sure he’d come here. It’d make him extra money through endorsements to be in New York over Missouri.
The last thing the Mets should do is trade for Houston Street as a closer because he’s not a reliable one. As a set-up man is a different story. J.J Putz wouldn’t be a bad option. Trading for Valverde or Nathan is fine too. Jenks can burn out his arm. But K-Rod could hurt himself with his pitching motion. And Fuentes is six years older than both of them and had 4 consecutive blown saves in July ‘07 that got him knocked out of his role with the Rockies. The only time the Rockies were ever good was at the same time he wasn’t competent. Is that who we want?
If the Mets are going low risk, sign Trevor Hoffman. He’s been there. I’m not saying he’s an incredible option but signing him to a one year deal isn’t a long term option. It’ll allow the Mets to test the market again in the future. I don’t consider Wood to be an option. The Cubs traded for Gregg who had 9 blown saves in 41 opportunities. Wood’s to vulnerable to arm problems.